Five Reasons Why Ben Roethlisberger Will Be Suspended by Roger Goodell

Ben Roethlisberger got some good news today when Fred Bright, the district attorney of the Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit in Georgia, announced he will not prosecute the sexual assault case against the two-time Super Bowl winning quarterback.

"We are not condoning Mr. Roethlisberger's actions that night," Bright said at his news conference. "But we do not prosecute morals, we prosecute crimes."

Big Ben dodged one bullet, but he isn't out of the woods just yet.

His sexual assault case may be wiped out, but he faces the real possibility of being suspended by the NFL or the Steelers organization.

Roethlisberger can be punished by the league or the Steelers for conduct detrimental to the league and the Pittsburgh franchise, according to the player-conduct policy.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has stated on numerous occasions he will meet with Roethlisberger soon.

"We are concerned that Ben continues to put himself in this position," Goodell said last week.

Rumors are circulating that Steelers president Art Rooney is considering punishing Roethlisberger if Goodell doesn't.

I don't think Mr. Rooney has to worry about that at all.

Goodell will hand down a suspension to Roethlisberger and here are the five reasons why it will happen.

1. This Is His Second Accusation in Less than a Year

Roethlisberger is fighting a civil lawsuit that was filed against him last year claiming sexual assault in the state of Nevada.

Whether he's guilty or innocent, that's two accusations of the same crime in a nine-month period.

The NFL doesn't like anyone or anything giving the league bad publicity and Ben has done just that for over a year now.

2. Goodell Came To Power Cracking Down on Player Misconduct

The commish came into the job with the intent of cracking down on player misconduct and he's done just what he set out to do.

Look to Pacman Jones and Michael Vick as proof.

Goodell doesn't want it getting around the league that star quarterbacks can get away with violating the player-conduct policy.

3. The Rooneys' Love for the City and the Franchise

The Rooneys are the Pittsburgh Steelers.

They've put their heart and soul into building the franchise as one of the greatest in NFL history—on and off the field.

The Santonio Holmes and Roethlisberger incidents have embarrassed the Rooney family and the organization.

They're angry and disappointed that Roethlisberger, the supposed face of the franchise, has caused all this negative press to come their way.

If the NFL doesn't do something about it, the Steelers will.

Just ask Holmes how swift the Rooneys' justice can be.

4. Roethlisberger Provided Alcohol to a Minor

According to DA Bright, Roethlisberger could have been cited for providing alcohol to a minor.

He stated that investigators concluded that Roethlisberger "provided shots of alcohol" for the victim and her friends and that they were "highly intoxicated."

It's illegal in the state of Georgia to provide alcohol to a person under the age of 21.

He won't be charged with the misdemeanor because the 20-year-old who accused him asked for the charges to be dropped.

5. The League Wants Big Ben in the Substance-Abuse Program

Goodell will probably make joining the program a condition of his reinstatement when Big Ben is suspended.

Under the league's personal-conduct policy, you don't need to be charged, and you don't need a conviction, to be punished.

Roethlisberger will most likely be forced into the substance-abuse program and be suspended for one or two games during the 2010 season.

Maybe, just maybe, it will be the wake-up call Roethlisberger needs.